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Community Kitchen of the Month October 2024

A modern kitchen with dark cabinets and a large island, dining area in the background, by Nolte Kitchen.

New England meets North German down-to-earthness – Carol shows how country style works in a modern way.

I'm Carol, and together with my partner Patrick, I've won the community kitchen of the month for October! On my Instagram account @home_diary_no.26, I share everything about our self-designed home. The highlight? Our Nolte kitchen in a modern country-house style – with dark fronts, golden handles, and a light countertop. For me, this is the perfect mix of design and functionality. Our kitchen is the heart of the home – a place for friends, family, and wonderful memories. My style is inspired by New England charm and the English Country Look – cosy, stylish, and full of personality.

Please briefly introduce yourself and tell us something about yourself. 
My name is Carol, I'm 33 years old and a dentist. My husband is Patrick, 32 years old and a pilot by profession. We both love to travel frequently, especially to Mallorca, which is our second home. 

You are active yourself on Instagram, what characterizes you and your account, and what do you show us there? 
I (Carol) take care of our Instagram page @home_diary_no.26. I've been taking my follower along since we purchased our land, shared progress during the construction phase and showcase interior inspiration. Occasionally, there are also stories and pictures from our vacations. 

Tell us more about your home. You built a house in 2023/24. Are you now completely finished and satisfied? 
We bought a plot of land near Bremen in November 2022 and began construction in May 2023. After a somewhat bumpy construction phase, we were finally able to move in in May 2024. Of course, there were still a few things to do. In the meantime, we have completed almost everything except for a few small details. In the spring, the big garden project will follow. 

How would you describe your decorating style?
I would say it is a mix of New England and English Country. We really like the mix of modern furniture and antique individual pieces. Comfort is also very high on our list, along with beautiful bright rooms and just a few colours as accents. 

Does your character reflect your interior design? 
Definitely. 

What inspired you to choose this decorating style?
We both love America. Therefore, it was already clear during the planning process that our house would have an American style. Since my husband's parents are architects, we designed our house entirely by ourselves. 

We see your interior is completely coordinated. How important is a harmonious overall look to you? 
The overall look is very important to us. We thought a lot about which elements in each room would ensure everything creates a harmonious impression. 

Modern kitchen with island and dark cabinets, dining area in background. Nolte Kitchens.
The open kitchen in Modern Classic style not only offers plenty of space but also impresses with a well-thought-out room layout and high-quality materials.
A modern kitchen with gray cabinets and built-in appliances from Nolte Kitchen.
The continuous cabinet wall with golden handles sets classic accents while simultaneously providing maximum comfort in everyday life.
A modern kitchen with a white sink and herb pot on the countertop, designed by Nolte Kitchen.
The continuous cabinet wall with golden handles sets classic accents while providing maximum comfort for everyday use.

How did it come about that you decided on a kitchen from Nolte in this style? 
We visited different kitchen studios and also had a clear idea of how our kitchen should look. In the third and final kitchen studio, there was a kitchen from Nolte with a style we simply really liked. Then, we sat down with a consultant and planned the kitchen. 

Did you plan your kitchen yourselves or have it planned? 
We planned our kitchen entirely ourselves. I think that's why it was also very difficult at first to find exactly what we had envisioned. Most of the kitchen studios did not convince us.

What did you enjoy most about the planning?
Nolte kitchens have a very extensive range with the most diverse fronts. We absolutely wanted a dark grey kitchen, no black. All of this in a modern country-house style. Here it was good that we could view everything directly in the kitchen studio and place it next to each other. 

Were there challenges in planning or implementing the kitchen? 
The glass cabinets. Our kitchen consultant did an amazing job—since our original series did not have nice glass doors, he spontaneously combined two series, and it simply looks perfect. 

You chose a kitchen with dark country-style fronts and a bright countertop, what do you particularly like about it? 
We really like the contrast. We also have a white marble floor, so these dark fronts simply fit perfectly. 

Your golden handles are an absolute eye-catcher, would you also describe them as a visual highlight in your kitchen? 
Yes, the handles really upgrade the kitchen noticeably. They also perfectly match the overall appearance, as we have brass accents everywhere throughout the house, for example, the door handles and bathroom fittings. 

GlossaryWhat is Modern Classic?

The Modern Classic style combines classic forms and sophisticated details with contemporary colors and clean lines. Dark fronts in anthracite or navy, golden handles, and marble effects ensure an elegant yet modern appearance. Instead of excess, targeted highlights are used: a chandelier, stucco, or stylish lights bring personality and warmth into the concept. The result is a kitchen that is both tasteful and inviting – and convincing with timeless elegance.

Classic living reinterpreted

The "Neue Klassik" brings the elegant charm of past decades into the present. Inspired by the Art déco of the 1920s, this style stands for clear lines, subtle frames, refined surfaces, and a tasteful interplay of form, color, and function. Classic details such as cornice profiles, bronze-colored glass, or stylized handles meet here modern materials, handleless glass cabinet doors, and textured lacquer fronts such as TORINO LACK.
More about classic kitchens reinterpreted
An elegant dining area with a round wooden table and upholstered chairs under a chandelier. Nolte Living.

What is the most important function in your kitchen for you?
That you can easily reach all important things. 

What were three must-haves that absolutely had to be in your kitchen? 
First, the kitchen island, because you simply have a lot of space. Then the glass cabinets, as they make it look less cluttered. Lastly, the two ovens, because we always have many guests over and can thus prepare everything simultaneously.

Should your kitchen primarily be practical in everyday use, or was the design your priority? 
Both! Design was very important to us, so we searched for a very long time until we found the right one. It is not easy to find something when you have very precise ideas in mind. But Nolte was able to offer us that. It was also very important for us to have enough room for cooking and to conveniently store everything necessary within easy reach. 

Is the interior design just as important to you as the exterior appearance? 
The appearance was more important to us, so we had to make some compromises regarding drawer sizes. 

What memories or experiences do you especially associate with your kitchen?
When family and friends are here, we actually only sit in the kitchen with the adjacent dining area. Our large round dining table is also perfect for a great game night. 

Would you plan your kitchen exactly the same way again, or would you change something? If yes, what?
Yes, I would plan it exactly the same way again. I find the layout extremely practical, there is a lot of space and the kitchen really looks very chic. However, we would choose a different fridge. 

A modern single-family home with a large front yard and paved driveway at sunset.
Classic meets modern: The elegant architecture of this house is stylishly showcased through clear lines, symmetrical forms and a subtle colour mix.
A modern kitchen with baking ingredients on the countertop, equipped by Nolte Kitchen.
Everyday life with style: Whether baking or cooking – the high-quality equipment meets affectionate details here and turns the kitchen into the real center of family life.
A modern kitchen with an island and seating, designed by Nolte Kitchen.
Modern Classic in the heart of the home: The combination of dark matt fronts, golden handles and a cooking island with marble appearance creates a luxurious yet homely atmosphere.

What are your three most important tips on the topic of housekeeping? 
1. Plenty of storage space. We specifically have two rooms, one being the utility room, which contains the heating, washing machines and dryer, as well as jackets and shoes. Then one room with a second kitchen unit and tall cabinets for cleaning materials and food, along with a second large refrigerator. This makes tidying up considerably easier when everything has its place.

2. Decluttering. I regularly sort out my dressing room and my decoration so that no unnecessary stuff takes up all the space. 

3. It's okay to sometimes leave things lying around and things don't always have to be perfectly tidy. After all, you're living there and it's not a furniture store :) 

 

On Instagram you say that the kitchen is the heart of the house, why is that the case for you and what does life in the kitchen mean to you? We both love cooking and baking. Because of that, we really enjoy inviting family and friends over. It was very important for me that we have chairs at the kitchen island, so people can already sit down while cooking.

Which space in your home is your favourite and why?
I love our kitchen and the fireplace room. In the open kitchen with the dining area, it's simply where everything happens when guests are over. Thanks to the large French doors, you can easily go from the kitchen/dining area onto the terrace in the summer. The fireplace room is for cozy afternoons/evenings, where I really enjoy sitting.

Carol loves company at home

“Our kitchen is not just a room – it is the heart of our home, a place filled with life, laughter, and our favourite people.”

Further information

In our Kitchen Journal you will find even more inspiration for individually planning and designing your dream kitchen.

A modern kitchen with light cabinets and a large window, stylishly presented by Nolte Kitchen.
View here

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